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Wilten Enters its Sixth Year - Sector Update and Key Focus Areas

  • Mar 13
  • 3 min read

Entering our sixth year and looking forward to the next five year period, we are focusing on clearly defined services in core market sectors and implementing a business improvement strategy to continue sustainable growth, further increase profit margins,  and achieve efficiencies across all areas of the business, i.e. Doing it Better.

 

Our focus enables us to continue to provide high quality and value driven services in core sectors that we have committed to since our establishment, whilst responding to construction industry data and forecasts, including:

  • Industrial - 12% forecasted growth in 2026 project starts, along with higher consumer spending which will increase demand for light I&L space

  • Manufacturing – Such facilities accounted for 59% of industrial projects starts in 2025, 31% up from 2024, which indicates further growth for 2026

  • Commercial Offices - 13% forecasted growth in 2026 project starts

  • Retail – A forecasted growth in household consumption will help this sector, with supermarkets accounting for the largest share in 2025

  • Civil Engineering Outlook – 17% forecasted growth 2026 project starts

 

Jeremy Sharland, Development Director Kingsbridge Estates: .

"Congratulations to the Wilten team on entering your 6th year.  Wilten Construction completed their first scheme with Kingsbridge in 2025 when they delivered our 106,000 sq ft BREEAM Outstanding Ferne Park industrial development in Fareham.  The team delivered a top quality of product and we were always impressed with the site set-up and focus on safety-first during construction.  Wilten are now delivering their second development with Kingsbridge, a 105,000sq ft manufacturing and headquarters facility for IMI in Poole.  We continue to be impressed by the quality of the teams and the product.  I look forward to working with you in the years ahead on future projects!"

 

Sector Focus

 

Industrial and Logistics Market Focus

  • Light, Mid, and Big Box units

  • Small to medium urban and last mile units for trade counters and light industrial space

  • Specialist sectors including food and cold storage, data and tech, and life sciences

  • Mezzanine construction and optimising yards to create more GIA

 

Commercial Market Focus

  • Specialist sectors such as office space for tech, life sciences, and innovation

  • Head offices / headquarters buildings based on office employment levels growing in the short term before easing for the long term

 

Manufacturing Market Focus

  • Advanced manufacturing

  • Production areas

  • Research and development space for innovation

 

Retail Market Focus

  • New retail premises and trade counters for a range of retailers

  • Food retails stores / supermarkets due to the demand for new stores in the coming years

  • Repurposing existing space to create more mixed use locations

 

Fit-out Market Focus

  • Integrated base build and fit-out contracts including CAT A, CAT B, and CAT C

  • Standalone fit-out contracts following the base build

  • Repurposing existing premises to meet ESG demands

 

Civils Focus

  • Integrated Civil Infrastructure solutions, enabling smooth execution of projects from the ground through to the physical building and completion of external works

  • Transport infrastructure and environmental enhancements to connect staff, users, the public, and the environment to newly completed development sites

 

Key Industry Themes Shaping Our Sixth Year

 

Entering 2026 and our six year, several industry changes, themes, and requirements will require us to work differently and upskill existing team members so that we are at the forefront in our marketplace:

 

  • Building Safety Act Reform and New Fire Safety Standards  – Our recently promoted Technical Director is now a certified Building Regulations Principal Designer for Non High Risk Buildings

 

  • BREEAM V7 – Two members of our Design Team are qualified BREEAM Accredited Professionals (APs), reducing costs on our projects whilst providing our clients with additional services in the built environment

 

  • Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) -

    • With increasing requirements and frameworks to report all Scope 3 emissions by 2023, we are working with our partners to report all Scope 3 by 2027 – 2028 with the aim of becoming Net Zero by 2030. This commitment requires collaborative working across our departments and with our supply chain to collect a full data set covering our full business spend / purchasing  for Purchased Goods and Services

    • Now classed as a large entity resulting from our turnover growth and strong financial position, our upcoming Reports and Accounts for our 2025 – 2026 Financial Year will capture Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)


  • Health and Safety, Environmental, and Quality (HSEQ)  – We are pleased to confirm another year of ZERO major and minor non-conformities. Our sixth year will require partnership across our Operations, Design, and HSEQ Teams to develop and implement continuous improvements to our integrated Business Management System embracing internal audits and a Business H&S Committee to enhance consultation across the business

 
 
 

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